Our Preferred Network Solution

Explore the proposed future of transportation in Burlington

Downtown Burlington

In response to the Problem and Opportunity statements, the technical team has developed a Preferred Network Solution. This is a proposal for what Burlington’s transportation networks could look like in the future.

In this section, we explore the future of transportation in Burlington, starting with the mode share shift the IMP is striving to achieve in order to reach our targets, and ending with the Preferred Network Solution. 

The Goal - Mode Share Targets

To fulfill the vision, values, and goals of the IMP, Burlington will need to shift the proportion of trips that are made by car to other modes of travel - also known as the mode share. 

The Preferred Network Solution identifies areas of the city where infrastructure investments are recommended to shift the mode share from cars towards walking, cycling, and taking transit.   

Transportation policies and programs will also help support the mode share shift. These will be developed in a future stage of the IMP, once a Network Solution is endorsed by Council.  

The pie charts represent the existing mode share in Burlington - how people move through the City today - and the target mode shares by 2051, which is the horizon year for the IMP.

Existing Mode Share pie chart indicates 90.7% auto, 5.3% walking, 3% transit and 1% cycling. Proposed Target Mode Share pie chart indicates 90% auto, 15% transit, 9%walking and 6% cycling.

Priority Networks 

The Preferred Network Solution is a combination of priority networks - networks of streets that prioritize each mode of travel: walking, cycling, transit, cars and trucks. The priorities of each street are dependent on that street’s location within our city, the connections it offers, and the surrounding land uses that each streets passes through. Some streets may also be part of more than one priority network.  

All modes of travel will be possible on any street, whether or not it’s part of that mode’s priority network.* However, the priority networks represent streets where certain modes will have a higher level of priority than others. 

The following pages show the pedestrian, cycle, transit, truck, and car priority networks individually, prior to combining them to show the overall Preferred Network Solution.

*Unless otherwise prohibited. For example, streets where large trucks are not permitted.

Pedestrians

The IMP aims to increase the proportion of trips taken by pedestrians from 5% to 9% by 2051.

To do this, Burlington will need to:

  • Continue to fill in gaps in the pedestrian network by constructing more sidewalks and pathways to better connect areas;
  • Improve pedestrian connections to transit stops and stations; and
  • Invest in high-quality pedestrian facilities in areas of targeted growth like the Major Transit Station Areas and Downtown Burlington.

Streets that have pedestrian priority will have more space dedicated to pedestrians and a higher standard for urban design to make walking safe, convenient, and more pleasant. 

This type of pedestrian infrastructure could be:

  • Wider sidewalks or multi-use paths;
  • Buffer zones between the sidewalk and the street;
  • Raised crosswalks to slow traffic (that slow down vehicle traffic);
  • Curb extensions at crosswalks;
  • Benches, lighting, street trees, and interesting design features; and/or
  • Shared roadway treatments on streets with low traffic speeds and volumes ONLY.

The image on the side shows an example of a pedestrian priority street design with wider sidewalks, a buffer zone that contains street furniture, and a raised crosswalk with curb extensions. 

Pedestrian Priority Network

Explore the Pedestrian Priority Network on this map.

Cycling

The IMP aims to increase the proportion of trips taken by cycling from 1% to 6% by 2051. 

To do this, Burlington will need to:

  • Build cycling infrastructure that makes it safe and comfortable to cycle for people of all ages and abilities;
  • Prioritize and implement the recommendations of the  2021 Burlington Cycling Plan 
  • Build new cycling crossings over the QEW and other barriers; and
  • Explore the feasibility of protected intersection designs that reduce the likelihood of conflict between cars and cyclists in locations where it makes sense.

Streets that have cycling priority will include cycling infrastructure that makes cycling feel safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities

Depending on the street, the volume of cars, and the speeds at which they travel, this type of cycling infrastructure could be:

  • Bike lanes that are physically separated from traffic;
  • Bike lanes that are raised to the same level as the sidewalk;
  • Multi-use paths or trails; and/or
  • Shared roadway treatments on streets with low traffic speeds and volumes ONLY.

The image on the side shows an example of a cycling priority street design that physically separates bikes from traffic with a parking lane and a vegetative buffer.

Cycling Priority Network

Explore the Cycling Priority Network on this map.

Transit

The IMP aims to increase the proportion of trips taken by transit from 3% to 15% by 2051 (12% for local trips and 20% for trips between Burlington and other municipalities).

To do this, Burlington will need to:

  • Continue investing in high-frequency transit routes;
  • Implement transit priority measures to prevent buses from getting stuck in traffic congestion in locations where it makes sense; 
  • Create more convenient bus connections to destinations across the city; and 
  • Improve pedestrian and cycling connections to transit stops and stations.

The images on the following side show examples of transit priority street designs with:

  • Several frequent bus routes running along them (for example, every 15 minutes or better);
  • Transit Signal Priority infrastructure and local queue jumps at intersections that allow buses to move through the intersection before general traffic; and/or
  • Transit-only lanes for buses throughout the day or only during peak periods.*

*Transit-only lanes would only be implemented in corridors where the ridership and the bus frequency justifies it. The City would increase transit frequencies along a corridor and make intersection efficiency improvements prior to building a new transit-only lane or taking a lane away from cars for bus-only use. 

    Streets that have transit priority could have:

    a) A queue jump for buses at an intersection (pictured on the side)

    Streets that have transit priority could have:

    b) A bus-only lane that is available for general traffic outside of weekday peaks (pictured on the side)

    Streets that have transit priority could have:

    c) A permanent bus-only lane throughout the day (pictured on the side is an example of a street with a bus lane that also has cycling priority)

    Transit Priority Network

    Explore the Transit Priority Network on this map.

    NOTE: In some areas, full BRT infrastructure may not be feasible due to limited right-of-way (ROW). In these locations, the City would focus on operationally improving the efficiency of buses.

    Cars

    The IMP aims to decrease the proportion of trips taken by car from 90% to 70% by 2051. Cars will remain an important mode of transportation in Burlington, even with this reduction. 

    To maintain mobility for cars, Burlington will need to: 

    • Maintain a strong network of Arterials and Collector roads; 
    • Study the feasibility of some new street connections that could improve mobility for all travelers; and
    • Monitor and manage congestion, particularly during the peak commuter periods.

    Car Network

    Explore the Car Network on this map.

    Trucks

    The efficient movement of goods by truck is a key part of Burlington’s economic prosperity. 

    To improve mobility for trucks, Burlington will need to: 

    • Physically separate cyclists and pedestrians from trucks in corridors with high truck volumes;
    • Prepare a Goods Movement Strategy to identify ways to improve the way we move goods to, from, and through Burlington; and
    • Develop a Complete Streets Design Guideline that accommodates the needs of trucks on key freight corridors.

    Truck Priority Network

    Explore the Truck Priority Network on this map.

    Preferred Network Solution

    The Preferred Network Solution is an integration of all the individual priority networks. 

    With the Preferred Network Solution, the City will focus on enabling a mode shift away from cars by making walking, cycling, and transit options that more people want to use. The City will widen streets to improve conditions for walking, cycling or transit users or to resolve safety concerns, but not for the sole purpose of increasing car capacity.

    In locations where multiple priority networks overlap, the City may complete a corridor study or a design review when it is time to transform or build that street. These studies or reviews will identify a way to accommodate all the priorities within the street right-of-way (ROW) or identify the trade-offs that have to be made if there isn’t enough space between property lines.

    Preferred Network Solution

    Explore the Preferred Network Solution on this map.

    Use the following buttons to toggle between the priority networks:

    Click on the networks on the map to see what the future streets might look like.


    Get Involved

    We want to hear from you! Take the interactive mapping survey to tell us if you agree or if there is anything we have missed for the proposed priority networks for cycling, walking, cars, trucks, and buses. Your input is key to the design of a safe, accessible, sustainable, balanced and livable future of transportation in Burlington. 

    Next Steps

    Your feedback will help us refine the Preferred Network Solution. Once refined, it will be brought before City Council as the Recommended Network Solution in December 2021, when Council will vote on whether to endorse it.  

    Once a future network is confirmed, project staff will transportation policies and programs that will support the infrastructure recommendations. They will also develop an Implementation Plan, which will identify project costs and the order that projects are to be completed in to make the future network a reality.  

    Do you have any questions about the IMP update or any of the material in this StoryMap? Please visit the  project page  or contact: 

    Kaylan Edgcumbe,

    Manager of Integrated Mobility @ City of Burlington

    905-335-7600 ext 7497

    kaylan.edgcumbe@burlington.ca

    Go to the next StoryMap:  Future State of Transportation